Tension device for grain-binders



(No Model.)

G. W. B. SMITH.

TBNSIDN DEVICE FOR GRAIN BINDERS. No. 352,429. Patented Nov. 9, 1886;

N, PETERS, Phnlu-ulhogmphcr. wasllmgiun. D, C.

NITE STATES rrrcn.

' ATENT TENSION DEVICE FOR GRAIN-BINDERS.

SPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352,429, dated November 9, 1886 Application filed April 6, 1886. Serial No. 197,998. (No model.)

\ Pomona, in the county of Jackson and State of lllinois,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tension Devices for Grain- Binders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in 'which Figure l is a perspective view of my improved tension device for grain-binders. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts -in all the figures. 1

My invention has relation to tension devices 'for regulating the tension of the binding twine or wire for grain-binders; and it consists in the improved construction and combination of parts of the same, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A indicates a portion of the frame of the binder upon which the device is secured, and this portion of the frame is provided with a slot or recess, B, the functionof which shall behereinafter described. A bracket, 0, is secured upon the upper side of the base, and is formed with a rear flange, D, and with two side or end flanges, E and F, one of which is provided with a perforation, G, while the other flange or lip is provided with a notch or slot, H, opening in the forward edge of the flange. A shaft, I, rocks with its ends in the bearings formed by the perforation and by the slot, and an L-shaped arm, J, is secured to the shaft by its horizontal lower arm, having its other arm bent at a right angle thereto and projecting vertically upward. A spring, K, is coiled around the shaft and is secured at one end to the slotted end flange, while the other end of the spring is secured to the inner end of the elbow-arm, the inner end of which projects to the rear of the shaft and rests upon the upper edge of the rear flange, when the arm isin its normal position, in which the spring serves to journaled upon a stud, O, projecting from the side of the sliding box.

The binding twine or wire]? passes through a number of eyes, Q, at both sides of the flanged bracket and passes over the grooved sheave, and it will be seen that as the twine or wire passes over the said sheave and any strain comes upon the same the arm will be tilted downward against the tension of the spring, which will force the arm back into its normal position as soon as the increased strain has passed, and the slot in the base is provided for the purpose of allowing the pulley to turn freely when the arm is tilted entirely down.

The sheave or pulley may be moved farther up ordown upon the arm by means of the set screw to adjust the said pulley, and thus the leverage witli which the strain of the twine or wire is exerted upon the arm may be increased or decreased by moving the pulley farther up or down upon the arm. In this manner all slack upon the twine or wire during the operation ofthe binder may be taken up, and all undue strain upon the wire or twine be prevented by the yielding arm having the pulley over which the twine or wire passes, the device thus insuring a perfectly-tight binding of sheaves of different thickness and preventing breaking of the twine or wire.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a take-up and tension device for grainbinders, the combination of an arm projecting from a shaft having its ends suitably journaled in a support, a spring coiled around the shaft,

and secured at oneend to the arm and at the other end to one of the bearings of the shaft, and a pulley having the binding twine or wire passing over it and j ournaled upon a stud proj ecting from a box sliding adjustably upon the arm, asand for the purpose shown and set forth.

2. In a takeup and tension device for grain.

another end flange having aslot, a shaftjourupon the side of the box, as and for the pur- IO naled with its endsin the perforation and slot, pose shown and set forth. an Lshaped arm secured to the shaft and hav- In testimony that I elai 111 the foregoing as my ing the rear end of its horizontal portion restown I have hereunto aflixed my signature in ing upon the rear flange, a spring coiled presence of two witnesses. around the shaft and secured to the rear end GEORGE V. B. SMITH. of the arm and to the slotted end flange, a box Witnesses:

having a set-screw and sliding upon the upper JAMES M. KEITH,

portion of the arm, and a pulley journaled SAMUEL HEIPLE, 

